Issued  September  28,  1912. 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  SOILS-MILTON  WHITNEY,  Chief. 

IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MISSOURI  AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT  STATION,  F.  B.  MUMFORD,  DIRECTOR. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  PLATTE  COUNTY, 

MISSOURI. 


A.  T.  SWEET,  OF  THE  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  and 

J.  E.  DUNN  AND  E.  S.  VANATTA,  of  the 

University  of  Missouri. 


J.  E.  LAPHAM,  Inspector  in  Charge  of  Northern  Division. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  1911.] 


WASHINOTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTINO   OFFICE. 

1012. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


United  States  Department  of  Aoricui.tire, 

Bureau  of  Soils, 
WashiNgfoiK  D.  C,  March  2U  1912. 
Sir :  In  the  extension  of  soil-survey  AAork  in  the  State  of  Missouri, 
work  was  undertaken  in  Platte  County,  the  selection  of  this  area 
being  made   after  conference  with   State  officials,  with  -whom   the 
bureau  is  cooperating. 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  manuscript  report  and 
map  covering  this  work  and  to  request  their  publication  as  advance 
sheets  of  Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils  for  1911,  as 
authorized  by  law. 

Very  respectfully,  Mil'ixjx  "Whitney, 

Chief  of  Bureau. 
Hon.  James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 
2 


URL  ^ 


CONTENTS 


Page. 
Soil  Survey  op  Platte  County,  Missouri.    "By  A.  T.  Sweet,  of  the  United 
States  Department  op  Agriculture,  and  J.  E.  Dunn  and  E.  S.  Vanatta, 

OP  the  University  ok  Missouri 5 

Description  of  the  area 5 

Climate 8 

Agriculture 9 

Soils 13 

Marshall  silt  loam 18 

Rnox  silt  loam 20 

Shelby  loam 20 

Crawford  stony  clay  loam 21 

Boone  fine  sandy  loam 22 

Wabash  very  fine  sandy  loam 23 

Wabash  silt  loam 24 

Wabash  clay 25 

Sarpy  very  fine  sandy  lf)am 26 

Sarpy  silty  clay  loam 27 

Sarpy  clay 27 

Sarpy  loam 27 

Sarpy  very  fine  sand 27 

Summary 28 


ILLllSTRyrriONS 


KKiURE. 

Pago. 
Fio.  1.  Sketch  ma))  showing' the  areas  surveyed  in  Missouri 5 

map. 

Soil  map,  riatte  County  slu-ct,  Missouri. 

8 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  PLATTE  COUNTY,  MISSOURL 

By  A.  T.  SWEET,  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  J.  E.  DUNN 
and   E.  S.  VANATTA,  of  the  University  of   Missouri. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  AREA. 

Platte  County  lies  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Missouri.  Its  ex- 
treme length  from  north  to  south  and  width  from  east  to  west  are 
about  equal,  approximately  20  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Buchanan  County,  on  the  east  by  Clinton  and  Clay  Counties,  and  on 
the  south  and  west  by  the  Missouri  River,  along  which  it  has  a 
frontage  of  about  50  miles.  The  included  area  is  427  square  miles, 
or  273,280  acres. 

Topographically  the  county  ma}'  be  divided  into  two  distinct  types 
of  country,  the  flat,  almost  level  flood  plains  of  the  INIissouri   and 


Kic:.  1. — Ski'Icli  map  sIiowIiik  (he  areas  survi'.vi'd  in  Missouri. 

Platte  Kiscrs  and  some  smaller  si  reams,  miuI  Ihe  lh()r<iii<^lily  dissected 
uplands. 

Tiio  eh'valion  of  (he  Missouri  IJiver  flood  plain  in  (lie  soiidiern  part 
of  the  county  is  approximately  7(')0  feet  above  sea  level  and  in  the 
northern  part  slighdy  higher.  The  elevation  of  llie  Platte  l\i\-er 
flo(;d  plain  and  that  along  the  lowei*  coiii'se  of  some  of  the  smaller 
streams  is  somewhat  greater  than  (Imt  of  the  Missouri. 

These  fl(K)d  plains,  or  bottom  lands,  e.\('e|)t  where  broken  by  low 
terraces,  lakes,  and  sloughs,  are  sm<K)th.     'J'hey  are  borden'd  by  steep 

5 


6  FIKI.n    OPERATIONS    OF    THE    TU'REAIT    OF    SOILS,    1!)11. 

blurt's,  till'  most  pronouiu'i'tl  of  (lieso  occuniiii!,'  aloiin-  (ho  Missouri 
Kivor. 

Tlu'  botloius  alonij  the  Missouri  Kivor  \  ary  in  width  from  li  uiilos 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  to  Kli<2;htly  more  than  3  miles  in 
the  northern  part.  Those  aloui;;  the  Phi(t(>  Ki\er  vary  in  width  fi-om 
one-half  to  over  three-fourths  of  a  mile. 

The  upland  is  a  thoroughly  dissected  plain,  which  once  sloped  very 
•rently  from  northwest  to  southeast.  Numerous  streams  have  cut 
hack  into  this  plain,  so  that  the  only  remnants  of  the  upland  are  die 
narrow  ridges  which  separate  the  small  drainage  systems.  The  high- 
est of  these  riilges,  located  about  1  mile  east  of  Tatan.  has  an  extreme 
elevation  of  slightly  more  than  1,100  feet,  and  the  divides  in  many 
parts  of  the  count}'  have  an  elevation  of  more  than  1,000  feet  above 
sea  level.  The  most  extensive  of  these  ridges  occurs  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county  and  extends  northeast  from  Kampton,  passing  out 
of  the  county  a  short  distance  north  of  Barry.  It  forms  the  water- 
shed between  Smith  Fork  and  Platte  River  on  the  north  and  the  small 
streams  which  flow  into  the  Missouri  River  on  the  south.  Another 
high  divide  separates  the  drainage  of  Bee  Creek  from  that  of  the 
Platte  River,  while  a  third  separates  the  drainage  of  Bee  Creek  from 
that  of  the  small  streams  which  flow  into  the  Missouri  River  on  the 
west.  The  topography  of  the  higher  parts  pf  these  divides  is  gently 
undulating,  but  becomes  steeper  and  more  broken  as  the  main  streams 
are  approached.  Bordering  the  valley  of  the  Platte,  Smith  Fork,  Bee 
Creek,  and  some  of  their  larger  tributaries,  the  sloj^es  are  steep  and 
sharp  and  rock  outcrops  and  low  ledges  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

The  unevenness  of  the  surface  also  increases  as  the  bluff  line  bor- 
dering the  Missouri  River  flood  plain  is  approached.  This  bluff  line 
frequently  ri>es  from  an  elevation  of  760  to  over  1,000  feet  in  a  dis- 
tance of  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  mile.  A  low  rock  ledge  occui-s 
in  most  places  along  this  bluff  line,  but  the  surface  for  a  distance  of 
several  miles  back  from  the  bluff  is  so  thoroughly  dissected  that  it 
presents  a  succession  of  steep  hills  and  intervening  liollows.  The 
topography  of  Platte  County,  however,  is  not  of  that  sharp  type 
found  where  erosion  forms  have  n,ot  been  modified  by  subsequent 
deposition,  but  has  instead  a  rounded,  billowy  appearance,  such  as 
uneven  surfaces  have  when  covered  by  a  heavy  snowfall.  This  is 
due  to  the  covering  of  many  irregularities,  steep  slopes,  and  deej^ 
cuts  by  a  heavy  deposit  of  wind-blown  material  known  as  loess. 
This  is  deepest  and  has  had  the  most  influence  on  the  topography 
along  the  river  bluff's,  but  the  topography  of  all  parts  of  the  county 
have  been  influenced  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  by  it. 

The  drainage  of  the  central  part  of  Platte  County  is  into  the 
Platte  River,  which  enters  the  county  near  its  northeastern  corner 
and,  after  following  a  meandering  course  to  the  southwest,  enters  the 
Missouri  Valley  near  Farley.     It  formerly  maintained  a  different 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  7 

course  through  the  Missouri  flood  plain,  entering  the  Missouri  River 
near  Parkville.  Later  its  course  changed  and  it  entered  the  river 
near  "Waldron,  and  recently  it  has  again  changed  and  now  enters  the 
Missouri  If  miles  south  of  Farley.  The  largest  tributary  of  the 
Platte  River  is  Smith  Fork,  which,  with  its  tributaries,  drains  a  con- 
siderable area  in  the  east-central  part  of  the  county,  aaid  enters  the 
Platte  about  2^  miles  northwest  of  Hoover.  Bee  Creek  drains  a 
consideraljle  area  in  the  north-central  part  of  the  county,  while 
Mission  Creek,  Bear  Creek,  Pedee  Creek,  Brush  Creek,  and  several 
smaller  streams  drain  areas  along  the  southwest  side  directly  into  the 
Missouri  River.  The  channel  of  th<»  ^lissouri  River  is  constantly 
changing  its  position  and  has  frequently  made  cut-offs  since  its 
channel  was  established  as  the  State  boundary  line,  so  that  this  line 
is  now  in  several  places  some  distance  from  the  river  channel,  thus 
leaving  portions  of  Missouri  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  por- 
tions of  Kansas  on  the  east  side.  In  this  connection  it  is  proper 
to  state  that  Sigers  Island,  lying  northwest  of  Waldron,  has  been 
inadvertently  omitted  from  this  survey. 

The  territory'  included  in  Platte  County,  prior  to  that  time  part 
of  an  Indian  reservation,  was  opened  for  settlement  in  February, 
1837.  The  county  was  organized  in  December,  1837,  and  was  within 
a  few  j'^ears,  next  to  St.  Louis  County,  the  most  populous  in  the  State. 

The  settlers  of  Platte  County  came  immediately  from  Clay  and 
other  near-by  counties,  but  originally  principally  from  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  and  Virginia.  There  has  been  little  change  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  population  in  the  county  since  it  was  first  settled,  until 
within  the  last  few  years,  the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  forui- 
ing  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants.  Since  the  ivvi\:il  of 
the  tobacco  industry,  however,  a  good  many  tobacco  groweis  have 
been  induced  to  settle  in  the  county.  These  have  come  principally 
from  KentuckJ^ 

The  first  year  after  the  county  was  settled  it  had  a  jiopulntiou  of  l>0 
to  the  square  mile.  In  1!)10,  73  years  later,  it  had  a  population  oi" 
only  14,429,  or  approximately  35  to  the  square  mile. 

Platte  County  has  no  Inrge  towns,  the  largest  being  AVeston, 
Platte  City,  Parkville,  Dearborn,  Edgerton,  and  Camden  l*oint,  each 
having  between  500  and  1,000  population.  Other  smaller  towns  are 
Waldron,  Farley,  Tatan,  Linkville,  Tracy,  Ridgeley,  and  New  Mar- 
ket. Platte  City  is  the  county  seat  ;  Parkville  is  the  site  of  Park 
College,  an  important  educational  institution  of  the  State.  At  Wes- 
ton is  located  a  brewery  and  a  distillery.  It  is  also  the  center  of  an 
important  tobacco  industry.  Although  there  are  no  towns  of  the 
first  rank  within  the  county,  gcKxl  markets  sind  trading  points  are 
quite  accessible,  Kansas  City  being  just  outside  of  the  county  to  the 
south,  St.  Josejjh  15  miles  from  its  northern  bonndnrv.  and  Lenven- 
"worth  and  Atchison,  Kans..  across  the  Missouri  Kiver  on  the  west. 


8 


KTHl.D    OPERATIOXS    OF    THE    HUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1011. 


I'hiito  County  is  fairly  well  --iii)i)lio(l  with  tran.-portatioii  facilities. 
The  Chioigo,  Biirrm<i:(()ii  i.^  Qiiincy  Eailroad  follows  (ho  Missouri 
l\ivor  Valley  along  the  western  edge  of  the  county.  The  Chicago 
(ireat  Western  crosses»the  Missouii  Kiver  at  Leavenworth  and  passes 
out  of  the  county  north  of  Dearborn.  A  branch  line  of  the  Chicago, 
K(H'k  Island  i(c  Tacilic  extends  from  Beverly  Station  to  the  northeast, 
passing  out  of  the  county  near  its  northeast  corner,  Avhile  another 
brancli  of  the  same  system  extends  from  P^dgerton  Junction  through 
Dearborn  and  northwest  to  Atchison.  An  electric  line  from  Kansas 
City  to  St.  Joseph  is  now  under  process  of  construction.  This  will 
extend  from  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county  slightly  west  of 
north,  passing  out  of  the  county  near  Dearborn. 

There  are  no  macadamized  or  gravel  roads  in  the  county,  and  the 
dirt  roads  over  much  of  it  are  in  jioor  condition. 

CLIMATE. 

Xo  suitable  recordg^of  the  weather  conditions  have  been  kept  within 
the  county.  The  following  table  gives  the  records  for  Kansas  City, 
a  short  distance  outside  of  the  county : 

XoniKil    tnonthly,   ficaaona'l,   and   (Uiinial    ton itcrat lire   and   prcciintatinn    at 

Kansas   CUij. 


Temperature. 

Precipitation. 

Month. 

Mean. 

Absolute 
maximum. 

Absolute 
minimum. 

Mean. 

Total 

amount  for 

the  driest 

year. 

Total 
amount  for 
the  wettest 

year. 

Snow, 
average 
depth. 

"F. 
34 
30 
29 

"F. 
70 
69 
76 

"F. 
-13 
-17 

—  22 

Inches. 
1.4 
1.3 

1.8 

Inchts. 
1.7 
0.4 
1.4 

Indies. 
1.4 
4.1 
1.1 

Inches. 
4.7 

5.6 

8.0 

31 

4.5 

3.5 

6.6 

18.3 

41 
56 
65 

88 
90 
90 

2 
22 
36 

2.5 
3.0 
5.1 

3.7 

4.2 
0.8 

4.5 

3.8 
7.7 

4.1 

1.0 

May        

0.0 

54 

10.6 

8.7 

16.0 

5.1 

74 

78 
76 

100 
106 
103 

48 
54 
46 

4.4 
5.0 
4.0 

2.5 
2.8 
2.6 

6.0 
4.9 
5.0 

0.0 

July               

0.0 

0.0 

76 

13.4 

7.9 

15.9 

0.0 

September 

69 
58 
43 

101 
91 

79 

35 
26 
4 

3.9 
2.3 
1.7 

1.8 
2.2 
0.6 

4.5 
4.4 

2.7 

0.0 

October     

0.4 

1.3 

Fall 

57 

7.9 

4.6, 

11.6 

1.7 

Year. 

54 

106 

-22 

36.4 

24.7 

50.1 

25.1 

SOIL   SURVEY   OF   PLATTE   COUNTY,   MISSOURI.  9 

There  is  an  average  annual  rainfall  of  36.4  inches.  The  precipita- 
tion is  fairly  well  distributed  throughout  the  year,  but  is  greatest 
during  the  months  from  April  to  October,  the  period  when  it  is  most 
needed.  The  soils  over  a  great  part  of  the  county  retain  moisture 
well.  The  crops  in  this  region  do  not  suffer  so  seriously  from  drought 
as  do  those  of  the  level  prairies  in  the  central  part  of  the  State. 

The  average  growing  season — that  is,  the  period  between  the  latest 
killing  frost  in  the  spring  and  the  first  killing  frost  in  the  fall — is 
181  days. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Platte  County  is  well  suited  in  both  soils  and  climate  to  a  wide 
range  of  crops.  Any  grain,  forage  plant,  fruit,  or  vegetable  suited 
to  the  climatic  conditions  of  the  Middle  "West  can  be  grown  success- 
fully here.  At  one  time  it  produced  more  hemp  than  any  other  equal 
area  in  the  country,^  but  this  crop  was  abandoned  long  ago.  In  the 
production  of  tobacco  only  one  other  county  in  the  State  exceeds  it, 
and  that  by  only  a  very  small  amount.  In  the  manufacture  of  whisky 
it  is  the  leading  county,  the  output  for  the  year  1909  being  "270,702 
gallons,  valued  at  $609,215. 

Few  other  counties  in  the  State  have  such  a  large  percentage  of 
first-class  farming  land  or  have  local  markets  so  accessible.  Kansas 
City  and  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Leavenworth  and  Atchison,  Ivans.,  are 
each  so  short  a  distance  from  the  county  boundaries  that  farm  and 
garden  products  can  readily  be  hauled  to  their  markets  by  wagon. 
In  addition  to  this  several  lines  of  railroad  offer  good  transportation 
facilities  to  these  markets  and  to  those  of  Chicago  and  St.  Louis. 

Under  conditions  of  this  kind  it  seems  remarkable  that  more 
intensive  and  more  profitable  farming  has  not  taken  the  place  of 
wheat  and  corn  raising  to  a  greater  extent  than  it  has.  For  the  last 
five  years  tobacco  has  been  grown  on  a  considerable  acreage,  but  with 
this  exception  practically  no  crop  requiring  intensive  farming  is 
produced  in  the  county. 

A  comparison  of  the  value  of  the  agricultural  i)ro(hic(s  of  Platte 
County  with  those  of  a  near-by  county  having  no  better  market  facil- 
ities and  probably  a  lower  percentage  of  first-class  farming  land 
shows  in  a  striking  manner  the  difference  in  results  obtained  in  ihc 
two  counties.  The  figures  show  that  in  this  county  the  value  of  (lie 
live  stock  j^er  acre  is  one-third  more  than  in  Platte,  tlu'  fannyanl 
products,  poultry,  eggs,  etc.,  two  and  one-half  times  as  much,  the 
vegetables  sixteen  times  as  much,  fruit  nearly  twice  as  much,  and 
dairy  products  nearly  three  and  one-half  times  as  much.  Only  in 
general  farm  crops  does  Platte  County  sur|)Mss  it  to  ;i  small  extent, 
this  being  due  to  the  large  jirodiid  ion  of  wlical  and  tobacx'o.     Com- 

'  ('<'nHUB,    I860 


10 


FIKI.l)    OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OK    SOILS,    U)ll. 


pariuiT  tlio  ivtmiis  from  all  ol"  Ihoso  priHlufts.  it  is  t'oiiiul  (hat  for 
overy  $100  worth  of  products  oiowii  on  the  farm  in  Platte  County  a 
little  more  than  $170  is  produceil  on  the  same  area  in  this  more 
intensively  fanned  county.' 

Aceordinii-  to  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  the  production  of 
the  principal  farm  crops  for  the  year  1909  in  Platte  County  was  as 
follows : 

E.'<liiniit((l   iini(lurtio)i   of  uhcat,   corn,   oaffi,  and  fonujc  for  1909. 


Crop. 


Wheat 

Corn 

Oats 

Hay  and  forage. 


.Vrea 
planted. 


A crcs. 

37,658 

51,383 

2,268 

14,250 


Average 

yield  per 

acre. 


Bushels. 
20 
33 
30 


Total  yield 
of  county. 


Bushels. 

753,160 

1,695,639 

71,040 

122,800 


1  Tons. 


This  table  is  somewhat  striking  in  two  respects.  It  shows  a  rela- 
tively large  acreage  of  wheat  as  compared  with  corn,  the  acreage  of 
the  former  being  practically  three-fourths  that  of  corn,  while  in  the 
State  as  a  whole  it  is  only  about  three-tenths  as  large.  It  also  shows 
a  high  average  yield  of  wheat  per  acre,  the  yield  for  the  State  as  a 
whole  for  the  year  1909  being  15.3  bu.shels,  w-hile  for  a  period  of  eight 
years  it  has  averaged  only  13.7  bushels.  The  estimated  average  yield 
of  Platte  County  for  the  year  1909  was  20  bushels  and  the  yield  for 
1911  was  probably  in  excess  of  this  amount. 

The  principal  varieties  of  wheat  grown  are  Red  Chaff,  Harvest 
King,  Harvest  Queen,  May,  and  Fultz.  No  commercial  fertilizer  is 
used,  and  in  many  cases  wheat  is  sown  on  the  same  ground  several 
years  in  succession.  A  continuation  of  such  practices  will  undoubt- 
edly in  time  lead  to  deteriorated  soils  and  decreased  yields.  Good 
yields  are  now  obtained,  a  yield  of  from  25  to  10  bushels  per  acre 
being  not  uncommon.  Clover  sown  in  the  wheat  in  the  spring,  on 
account  of  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  stand,  is  used  to  a  less  extent  than 
formerly.  By  a  more  general  use  of  clover  and  cowpeas,  by  exer- 
cising more  care  in  the  preparation  of  the  seed  bed,  by  treating  the 
seed  for  the  eradication  of  smut,  and  by  giving  wheat  a  place  in  a 
well-arranged  crop  rotation,  the  yield  can  be  increased  and  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  soil  maintained. 

Corn  is  grown  throughout  the  county,  and  the  yields  on  the  whole 
are  good,  but  much  less  attention  is  being  given  to  the  improvement 
of  corn  here  than  in  many  other  counties  of  the  State.     Little  atten- 


^  Surplus  Products  of  Missouri  Counties,  1910. 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  11 

tion  is  given  to  varieties  or  to  the  selection  of  the  seed,  and  careless 
methods  are  often  used  in  pLmting  and  in  cultivation. 

About  half  the  corn  in  the  county  is  check-rowed,  while  the  re- 
mainder is  listed,  some  communities  using  one  method  almost  exclu- 
sively, and  vice  versa.  The  results  obtained,  if  taken  for  a  long 
period  of  j-ears,  would  probably  be  about  the  same,  the  former  method 
proving  better  in  some  seasons  and  the  latter  in  others. 

More  attention  should  be  given  to  thorough  preparation  of  the 
seed  bed,  to  obtaining  a  uniform  stand,  to  the  planting  of  well- 
selected  varieties,  instead  of  mixed  seed,  as  at  present,  and  to  thor- 
ough cultivation.  Xot  more  than  two  crops  of  corn  should  be  planted 
in  succession  on  the  same  land,  and  where  the  soil  is  thin  only  one 
crop  should  be  grown.  Corn  should  follow  clover,  cowpeas,  or  pas- 
ture, or  should  be  used  on  land  to  which  an  application  of  manure 
has  been  made.^ 

The  average  yield  of  corn  in 'Platte  County,  as  given  by  the  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics,  is  33  bushels  per  acre.  By  intelligent,  skillful 
farming  this  yield  can  undoubtedly  be  increased  to  50  bushels  or 
more. 

Oats,  on  account  of  rust,  have  not  been  a  very  satisfactory  crop  for 
several  years  past,  the  3'ields  being  small  and  uncertain.  By  the  in- 
troduction of  rust-resistant  varieties,  of  which  the  Texas  Red  seems 
to  be  the  most  satisfactory',  somewhat  better  results  are  being 
obtained. 

Alfalfa  growing  is  receiving  considerable  attention  in  parts  of  tlie 
county,  but  has  hardly  passed  beyond  the  exi^erimental  stage,  the 
fields  being  small,  usually  only  a  few  acres.  Alfalfa  can  be  grown 
on  any  deep,  well-drained  productive  soil  which  will  produce  good 
clover,  if  the  soil  is  free  from  weed  and  grass  seed  before  the  crop 
is  sown  and  if  the  proper  precautions  are  taken  to  obtain  a  good 
stand.  The  bottom-land  soils  best  suited  to  this  crop,  however,  ai'e 
the  silt  loams  and  fine  sandy  loams,  when  the  latter  are  not  too  light 
in  texture,  and  the  Knox  silt  loam  and  the  brown  phase  of  the 
Marshall  silt  loam  of  the  loess  upland  soils.  Three  and  sometimes 
four  cuttings  of  alfalfa,  yielding  from  one-half  to  ovei-  one  (on  at  a 
cutting,  are  obtained.  It  is  not  believed  that  alfalfa  slioiild  take  (ho 
place  of  clover  in  a  region  so  avcH  sui(ed  to  the  latter  cro]),  l)ii(  on 
account  of  the  large  amoui](  of  feed  which  i(  produces  and  its  abili(y 
to  withstand  drought  no  faiiii  should  Im-  without  a  small  held  of 
alfalfa.^' 

1  Farmers"  P.iillitin  No.  i'.LS,  I'.  S.  Df'pt.  of  Ayr.,  (■|r<Miliir  No.  :!ll,  The  SccrlliiK  of  ("ow- 
poas,  XUssoiiri  K.xpi'rimcnt  Station,  and  Crowink'  I'owpras  In  Anssoiiri,  Ihhii<>(1  liy  the 
State  IJoard  of  AKrlcnlturc,  ^ivo  valnabic  siiuKi'stlons  on  j,'n)wln«  this  crop. 

2  Spc  FarnxTs'  liiillctin  No.  oo!',  T'.  S.  I)i'i)l.  of  AtrrlfiiK  iirc.  nnd  Circular  No.  -10  and 
Bulletin  No.  72,  l.ssucd  by  the  Kxpcrlincnt  tjt^ition,  Columbia,  Mo. 


12 


FIELD    OPERATIONS   OF    THE    BTREAIT    OF    SOILS,    IftU. 


No\t  to  tlio  pioilik't  ion  of  I'oiii  aiul  ^vlu•:lt  the  <^ro\viii^  of  tobacco 
is  the  most  important  industry  of  the  coimty.  Tobacco  has  been 
•ri'own  in  a  small  way  for  homo  use  ever  since  the  county  has  been 
settleil.  but  no  tobacco  had  been  grown  for  the  market  for  several 
years  until  about  five  years  ago.  The  growing  of  White  Burley 
tobacco  was  then  introduced,  and  the  results  obtained  have  been  so 
satisfactory  that  the  business  has  increased  until  at  present  Platte  is 
surpassed  by  only  one  other  county  in  the  State  in  the  production  of 
tobacco. 

The  following  table  shows  the  remarkable  increase  in  this  crop: 

rrodiictioii  of  tobtivco  in  I'lattc  Vountij  for  the  yeans  I'JOl  to  J'JIO, 
and  average  price. 


Years. 

Produc- 
tion. 

Trice  per 
pound. 

1907 

Pounds. 

260.000 

472, 000 

2,200.000 

3,060,000 

Cents. 

11  to  12 

16 

13 

8 

1908 

1909 

1910 

The  leading  soils  for  tobacco  are  the  Knox  silt  loam  and  the  brown 
phase  of  the  Marshall  silt  loam.  Of  these  the  Knox  silt  loam,  or 
yellowish-brown  soil  of  the  hills,  is  the  better,  giving  not  onl}'  a 
larger  yield,  but  also  a  better  quality  of  leaf.  The  Crawford  stony 
clay  loam  is  also  used  to  a  limited  extent,  but  unless  it  has  a  surface 
covering  of  loess  it  is  not  a  very  satisfactory  type  for  tobacco  culture. 

In  favorable  seasons  the  yield  of  tobacco  is  approximately  1,800 
pounds  i^er  acre.  The  quality  is  good.  "When  sold  on  the  Louisville 
market  in  competition  with  Kentucky-grown  tobacco  it  commands 
equally  high  prices. 

Much  of  the  tobacco  in  Platte  County  is  grown  by  tobacco  raisers 
who  have  been  brought  in  from  Kentucky  for  the  purpose.  Some 
of  it,  however,  is  grown  by  the  owners  of  the  land.  Where  grown  by 
tenants  the  landlord  furnishes  land,  barns,  and  farming  outfit  and 
receives  one-half  the  tobacco. 

The  growing  of  tobacco  in  Platte  County  has  led  to  the  clearing 
of  many  small  timbered  areas  wdiich  had  been  left  for  many  years 
for  wood  and  pasture,  and  on  account  of  the  steepness  of  the  slopes. 
Xewly  cleared  land  is  considered  the  best  for  tobacco,  but  it  has  been 
found  that  on  old  land  a  crop  of  cowpeas  plowed  under  will  do  much 
to  restore  the  soil  to  a  productive  condition. 

Only  a  few  fields  of  cowpeas  were  seen  in  the  county  during  the 
progress  of  the  survey.  This  may  be  made  a  very  valuable  crop,  both 
on  account  of  the  feed  which  it  will  yield  and  also  on  account  of  its 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   PLATTE   COUNTY,   MISSOURI.  13 

beneficial  effect  on  the  soil.  Cowpeas  may  follow  a  crop  of  wheat  or 
oats  as  soon  as  the  gi-ain  is  cut  and  may  be  used  for  hay  or  pasture 
or  may  be  planted  in  the  corn  at  the  last  cultivation. 

Much  of  the  soil  of  Platte  County  is  well  suited  for  the  growing 
of  garden  vegetables,  melons,  small  fruits,  and  berries,  yet  the  grow- 
ing of  such  crops  for  market  is  receiving  very  little  attention.  Much 
of  the  best  gardening  land  is  accessible  to  the  Missouri  and  Platte 
Rivers,  and  it  would  seem  that  important  interests  of  this  kind  might 
be  developed,  motor  boats  being  used  for  carrying  the  products  to 
market. 

Dairying  is  another  industiy  for  which  this  country  is  admirably 
suited  and  which  is  receiving  almost  no  attention.  With  its  wide 
range  of  forage  crops,  clover,  and  alfalfa  and  large  yields  of  corn 
for  ensilage  combined  with  accessible  markets  few  regions  are  so 
favorably  situated  for  a  profitable  dairy  business.  Stock  raising  of 
all  kinds  should  receive  much  more  attention  than  at  present. 

Sj^stematic  crop  rotations  should  be  adoi:)ted,  in  which  the  use  of 
land  for  pasturage,  the  growing  of  legume  crops  and  the  use  of 
manures  should  have  a  regular  place. 

"^^Hien  such  a  system  of  farming  is  adopted  and  is  supplemented 
by  dairying,  by  tobacco  growing,  and  by  market  gardening  and  fruit 
raising,  the  agricultural  output  of  the  county  will  be  very  greatly 
increased. 

Artificial  drainage  by  means  of  open  ditches  oi'  tile  might  be  re- 
resorted  to  with  good  results  in  many  sections  of  (he  bottom  lands 
throughout  the  area. 

Soil  moisture  could  be  conserved  and  loss  in  times  of  drought  re- 
duced to  a  minimum  by  a  system  of  deep  plowing,  harrowing,  and 
disking  the  soil  tlioroughly  and  forming  a  dust  mulch.  "Widi  an 
annual  rainfall  of  35  inches  crops  need  never  suffer  from  tlrouglit 
when  proper  measures  are  adopted  to  preserve  soil  moisture. 

P^rosion  constitutes  the  most  serious  source  of  daiuage  to  the  soil 
in  the  county.  Deep  plowing  and  the  incorporation  of  organic 
matter,  thereby  increasing  the  moisture-absorbing  cai)aci(y  of  the 
soil  and  preventing  ra|)id  run-off  of  stonn  watci's  will  do  nnicli  to 
check  this.  Contour  farming  along  slopes  and  the  i)lanting  of  sod 
crops  to  hold  the  soil  logcthei'  and  |)rc\t'n(  Wiishiiig  will  ;dso  do 
much  to  prevent  sei'ious  damage.  Kedtop  is  an  exccllenl  grass  for 
this  purjjose,  as  it  foi-ms  a  strong  sod. 

SOTI,S. 

The  sf)ils  of  Platte  County  may  be  separated  according  to  origin 
into  three  broad  divisions — the  residual  soils,  the  glacial  and  h»('s- 
sial  soils,  and  the  silluvial  soils.     In  cxtcnl   of  aica  covered  and   in 


14  FTKI.n    OPKRATIOX!^    OF    THE    lU'HF.Ar    OF    S(ni.S,    llUl. 

tlu'ir  value  I'di'  apiculture  the  <::lacial  and  l(K>ssial  soils  are  of  first 
importance,  the  alluvial  soils  are  next,  and  the  residual  soils  of 
smallest  extent  and  also  of  least  value. 

I "nderlyintj:  the  surface  coverino^  of  soil  througliout  this  part  of 
Missouri  are  alternating  beds  of  limestone  and  shale  and  in  places 
thin  beds  of  sandstone.  These  beds  belong  to  the  Upper  Coal 
Measures  and  dip  slightly  to  the  north  and  west,  so  that  the  older 
or  lower  beds  come  near  the  surface  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  Avhilc  the  higher  or  more  recently  foi-med  beds  are  near  the 
surface  in  the  northern  part.  Owing  to  the  surface  covering  of  soil 
these  rock  beds  can  be  seen  only  along  the  steep  bluffs  bordering  the 
stream  valleys  and  where  small  streams  have  cut  their  vcay  back  into 
them.  The  slight  dip  or  tilt  of  the  beds  can  be  readily  seen  along 
the  railroad  between  Beverly  Station  and  Weston  or  on  the  Kansas 
side  of  the  river  between  Fort  Leavenworth  and  the  tenninal  bridge. 

AMierever  rock  outcrops  occur  the  limestone,  and,  in  parts  of  the 
county,  sandstone,  beds  are  the  most  prominent,  ledges  varying  in 
thickness  from  a  few  to  as  much  as  20  feet  or  more  being  quite  com- 
mon. Above  and  below  these  ledges  and  in  many  places  where  no 
ledges  occur  fragments  of  limestone  almost  cover  the  surface  of  the 
gi'ound.  This  prominence  of  the  limestone  at  the  surface  is  not  due 
to  its  greater  thickness,  but  to  its  greater  hardness,  which  enables  it 
to  withstand  weathering  more  effectively  than  the  other  rocks.  The 
shale  beds  are  much  softer  and  soon  break  down,  forming  a  surface 
covering  of  soil.  The  shale  beds  are  rarely  seen,  except  when  they 
have  been  cut  into  in  grading  roads,  along  recently  cut  stream  chan- 
nels, or  where  well  protected  by  an  overlying  bed  of  limestone. 
Along  the  upper  course  of  Jordan  Branch  in  the  north-central  part 
of  the  county  shale  outcrops  over  20  feet  in  thickness  were  seen  and 
along  the  road  half  a  mile  east  of  Platte  City  beds  of  more  than 
twice  that  thickness  are  exposed.  Judging  from  the  position  of  the 
outcropping  limestone  beds,  however,  the  shale  beds  are  in  places 
from  40  to  80  feet  or  more  in  thickness.  In  parts  of  the  county 
where  the  glacial  and  loessial  covering  is  thin  and  hard  limestone 
beds  come  near  the  surface  they  have  checked  the  widening  of  the 
stream  valleys,  which  in  these  places  consist  of  a  narrow  flood  plain 
bordered  by  a  long,  gentle  slope  which  terminates  at  the  upper  edge 
in  a  steep  rock-covered  slope  and  in  some  places  in  a  rock  ledge. 
In  parts  of  the  county,  too^  this  weathering  of  alternating  hard  and 
soft  beds  has  given  a  mesalike  appearance  to  the  topography.  This 
is  rather  marked  southeast  of  Platte  City,  near  New  Market,  and  in 
many  other  places  in  the  county. 

The  limestones  vary  in  color  from  light  yellowish  brown  to  light 
gray,  are  very  fossiliferous,  and  the  greater  proportion  of  them  are 
thin  bedded  and  shalv.     Several  harder,  more  crvstalline  and  more 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  15 

massive  beds,  however,  occur.  These  vary  in  thickness  from  8  to  24 
inches,  and  the  rock  is  used  extensively  for  building  purposes,  for 
which  it  is  well  suited.  Owing  to  its  greater  toughness  it  is  not  so 
well  suited,  however,  for  the  manufacture  of  crushed  rock  as  the 
lower-lying  Bethany  Falls  limestone,  which  outcrops  in  the  counties 
south  of  the  Missouri  River.  The  shale  beds  vary  in  color  from 
yellowish  gray,  drab,  and  various  shades  of  reddish  brown  to  black. 
In  hardness  they  vary  from  rock  that  can  easily  be  crumbled  be- 
tween the  fingers  to  rock  approximating  slate.  The  lighter  colored 
beds  usually  contain  considerable  quantities  of  very  fine  mica  par- 
ticles and  not  infrequently  thin  strata  of  very  fine  textured  sandy 
shale. 

The  soils  derived  from  the  limestone  and  shale  beds  have  been  so 
thoroughly  mingled  during  the  processes  of  soil  formation  that  it  is 
impossible  to  separate  them  on  the  basis  of  origin,  and  they  have  been 
classified  as  Crawford  soils  derived  from  alternating  beds  of  lime- 
stone and  shale. 

At  "Waldron  and  in  several  places  along  the  blull'  between  that 
point  and  Parkville  large  blocks  of  soft,  yellowish-brown  or  buff 
colored,  fine-grained  sandstone  are  seen.  The  sandstone  bod  fiom 
which  these  fragments  come  also  outcrops  along  Sand  Branch.  Brush 
Creek,  Rush  Creek,  and  other  streams  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county.  If  it  extends  farther  north  it  is  so  low  and  so  thorougldy 
covered  by  the  more  recent  fonnations  that  it  plays  but  a  small  i)art 
in  the  formation  of  the  soils.  This  bed  varies  in  thickness  from 
5  or  G  feet  to  more  than  twice  that  thickness,  the  thickest  outcrop 
being  noted  about  H  miles  northeast  of  Tiffany  Springs,  where  it 
attains  a  thickness  of  about  15  feet.  In  some  places  the  upper  por- 
tion of  this  bed  or  one  lying  immediately  above  it  is  dark  reddish 
brown  in  color  and  thin-bedded  and  shaly  in  character.  Owing  to  its 
massive  structure  this  sandstone,  although  very  soft,  does  not  weallici' 
rapidly.  In  parts  of  the  area  where  it  comes  near  the  surface  on 
long  slopes  it  has  furnished  the  principal  soil-forming  malci-iul,  giv- 
ing a  smooth  yellowish  fine  sandy  loam  of  low  fertility  wliidi  lias 
been  called  the  Boone  fine  sandy  loam. 

Scattered  over  the  surface  and  cml)edded  in  the  soils  in  many 
places  in  Platte  County  there  are  large  irregulai-  masses  of  i-ock 
unlike  any  found  in  place  in  the  bluffs  or  rocky  ledges.  A  laigc 
part  of  these  are  reddish  granite  and  quartzile,  but  many  oilier  i-ocks 
of  foreign  origin  are  represented.  There  are  also  in  places,  usually 
around  the  heads  of  the  smaller  streams,  beds  of  walerworn  gi-avd 
and  i:)ebbles.  These  also  contain  nmch  foreign  malerial.  usually 
quartz,  quartzite,  and  granite,  but  also  limestone,  dieii.  ami  odiei- 
material  prol)al)ly  of  local  origin.  '^Fliese  bods  of  gia\cl  filled  sdil 
almost   invariably  occur  inunediately  above  a  bed  of  limestone  or 


16  FIELD   OPERATIONS  OF   THE  BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1911. 

sandstono.  The  origin  of  this  forei<pi  material  or  ilrii't  is  believed 
to  have  been  iee  sheets,  which  formerly  spread  from  the  north  over 
the  central  part  of  the  United  States  as  far  south  as  the  Missouri 
Kiver.  Deposited  with  the  waterworn  material  there  is  in  many 
places  a  bright  red  clay  in  which  the  gravel  is  embedded.  In  places 
this  red  clay  occupies  the  same  position  just  above  the  rock  beds,  but 
contains  little  or  no  gravel,  and  in  a  few  other  places,  especially 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  a  stiff,  mottled  puttylike  clay  not 
unlike  the  glacial  till  found  under  the  flat  prairies  in  the  central  part 
of  the  State  is  found.  All  of  this  material  is  believed  to  be  the 
result  of  an  early  glaciation,  known  as  the  Kansan.  The  soil  derived 
from  this  old  glacial  material  has  been  called  the  Shelby  loam.  It 
is  of  small  extent  and  not  of  great  value  agi-iculturally. 

Overlying  the  material  giving  rise  to  the  Shelby  series  and  in 
most  places  covering  it  to  a  considerable  depth  are  soils  of  a  very 
different  character,  known  as  the  loess  soils.  These  soils  range  from 
light  yellowish  brown  to  brown  or  almost  black  in  color,  are  smooth 
and  velvety  to  the  touch,  and  of  almost  uniform  texture,  both  in  the 
vertical  section  and  over  large  areas.  Where  cut  into  by  streams 
or  roads  they  stand  up  in  vertical  banks,  resisting  erosion  to  a  remark- 
able degree;  but  where  gullies  are  allowed  to  start  they  erode  very 
rapidly,  soon  leaving  deep  V-shaped  gashes.  The  depth  of  the  loess 
in  Platte  County  varies  from  only  a  few  inches  to  GO  or  80  feet  or 
more.  Taking  the  area  as  a  whole,  the  deepest  loess  occurs  on  top 
of  the  bluffs  bordering  the  ^Missouri  River  Valley  and  thins  out 
toward  the  east  and  north,  or  away  from  the  river.  On  the  bluffs 
near  Weston  the  loess  is  undoubtedh'  in  places  GO  feet  or  more  deep. 
In  the  cut  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad,  3^  miles 
west  of  Platte  Cit}',  a  bank  of  soil  between  50  and  60  feet  deep  is 
exposed,  the  upper  30  feet  being  loess,  while  the  lower  part  of  the 
section  is  redder  in  color  and  seems  to  be  somewhat  heavier  in  texture. 
Erosion,  however,  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  present  thickness  of 
the  loe  for  it  has  been  washed  from  the  slopes  and  has  j^artly  filled 
the  valleys.  In  some  places  it  has  been  entirely  removed,  but  there 
are  few  soils  in  the  area  which  have  not  been  influenced  by  it.  It  is 
this  deposit  over  a  large  part  of  the  county  which  gives  the  topog- 
raphy its  billowy,  rounded  appearance. 

Xo  very  satisfactory  explanation  of  the  origin  of  loess  has  ever 
been  given,  but  from  its  uniformity  of  material,  its  lack  of  stratifica- 
tion, and  its  deposition  in  beds  of  fairly  uniform  thickness  regardless 
of  topography  it  has  generally  been  attributed  mainly  to  the  action 
of  the  wind. 

From  the  uniform  tendency  of  the  deposits  of  loess  material  to 
be  thickest  along  the  river  bluffs  and  to  thin  out  away  from  them,  it 
seems  more  than  probable  that  broad  river  flood  plains,  such  as  that 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURL  17 

of  the  Missouri,  may  have  had  an  important  part  to  phiy  in  loess 
formation  and  deposition.  Such  flood  pLains  were  no  doubt  inun- 
dated many  times  during  the  recession  of  the  ice  sheet,  each  inunda- 
tion leaving  its  load  of  finely  ground  material  fresh  from  the  melting 
ice.  As  these  vast  stretches  dried  after  each  period  of  inundation 
the  strong  winds  which  must  have  accompanied  such  conditions 
loosened  the  particles  and  carried  them  in  storms  of  loess  over  the 
bluffs,  dropping  the  very  fine  sand  at  the  first  obstructions,  but  car- 
rying the  finer  silt  and  clay  farther  inward.  Only  on  a  compara- 
tively level  surface  such  as  flood  plain  are  sand  and  dust  storms 
likely  to  occur.  Then,  too,  an  analysis  of  loessial  material  invari- 
ably shows  that  near  the  bluffs  it  is  coarser  in  texture,  being  some- 
times a  very  fine  or  fine  sandy  loam,  while  farther  from  the  bluffs  it 
contains  a  higher  percentage  of  silt  and  clay. 

Whatever  its  origin,  the  loess  has  supplied  one  of  the  most  produc- 
tive soils  in  the  United  States.  In  Platte  County  it  is  by  far  the 
most  important,  covering  a  much  larger  area  than  all  other  soils  com- 
bined. The  loess  soils  have  been  divided  into  two  classes — the  brown 
and  black  loess  called  the  Marshall  silt  loam,  and  the  lighter  colored 
yellowish  loess  called  the  Knox  silt  loam. 

The  alluvial  soils  of  the  area  come  from  two  principal  sources. 
The  first  is  wash  from  the  loess  mixed  to  a  very  small  extent  with 
wash  from  the  residual  soils  and  deposited  in  the  flood  plains  of  all 
the  smaller  streams.  Soils  formed  from  this  nuiterial  belong  to  the 
Wabash  series.  AVlien  tlie  alluvial  soils  come  so  directl}^  fi'om  the 
loess  as  they  do  in  this  area  they  often  differ  from  the  upland  loess 
but  little  in  color,  texture,  or  crop  value.  Tu  places,  however,  the 
sandier  material  has  been  sorted  out  and  deposited,  usuallv  near  the 
stream  channel,  while  in  other  places  the  clays  and  silt  have  been  de- 
posited, thus  forming  heavy  soils  which  have  often  become  more 
intractable  and  apparently  heavier  on  acconnl  of  l;i(l<  of  drainage. 

Alluvial  soils  of  the  second  class  are  found  in  tiie  lK>od  plain  of 
the  Missouri  River  and  have  been  formed  from  material  brought 
down  and  deposited  I)\'  that  stream.  I^ike  the  A\'abash  soils,  they 
vary  in  texture  from  very  ligiit  fine  sand  to  heavy  clay.  Their  prin- 
cipal distinguishing  chai-acteristic  is  the  sandy  oi*  light  silty  character 
of  the  subsoil  underlying  the  heavier  surface  soils.  These  soils  l)e- 
long  to  the  Sarpy  series.  Near  the  blnfl's  bordering  the  Missoui-i 
River  flood  plain,  and  especially  where  small  streams  enter  it.  con- 
siderable areas  are  covered  by  soils  which  are  a  mixture  of  the 
AVabash  and  Sarpy  series.  The  AVabash  chai-acterist ics  usually  |)ii'- 
dominato  at  the  surface  near  the  stream  channel,  while  the  Sarpy 
characteristics  are  founU  in  I  Ik-  subsoil.  I'\Mrther  from  the  streams 
the  two  materials  ai-e  more  thoroughlv  mixed. 


IS 


FTKI.n    OPERATIONS    Ol'    TTrE    RUKKAU    OF    SOILS,    1911. 


Tlio  t'ollowiiiii-  labU*  ijivi's  the  iiaiuo  iuitl  I'xtont  of  each  soil  iu:>j)i)e(l 
ill  aroa : 

Areas  of  different  Kails. 


Soils. 


MarsluUI  silt  lotiin 

Knox  silt  losim 

Crawford  stony  chiy  loam 

Wabiish  silt  loiun 

Heavy  phase 

ColUivial  phase 

Sarpy  clay 

Sarpy  very  fine  sandy  loam.. 
Sarpy  silty  clay  loam 


86.016 

65,216 

36,544 

2,816 

2,048 

768 

16,000 

12,992 

9,856 


Per  cent. 


;n.5 

23.9 
13.4 


5.8 
4.7 
3.6 


Soils. 


Shelby  loani 

Wabash  very  fine  sandy  loam. 

Sarpy  very  fine  sand 

Boone  fi  ne  sandy  loam 

Sarpy  loam 

Wabash  clay 

Total 


9,664 
8,384 
4,544 
3,456 
1,280 
1,152 


273,280 


Per  cent. 


3.5 
3.1 
1.7 
1.3 
.5 
.4 


MARSH.\I.L   SILT   LOAM. 


The  ^larshall  silt  loam  is  the  most  important  soil  type  in  Platte 
County,  not  only  on  account  of  its  extent,  but  also  of  its  high  agri- 
cultural value.  There  are  two  distinct  phases  of  the  Marshall  silt 
loam — the  black  or  prairie  phase  and  the  brown  or  timbered  phase. 

The  prairie  phase  consists  of  a  dark-gray,  black,  or  bluish-black 
silt  loam,  very  fine  and  light,  and  containing  considerable  amounts 
of  very  fine  sand  near  the  surface.  Beneath  the  surface  3  or  4  inches 
it  becomes  slightly  heavier  in  texture  and  at  IG  to  20  inches  faint 
brown  mottlings  are  occasionally  seen.  At  a  depth  of  16  to  20  inches 
a  few  small  iron  concretions  frequently  occur  and  in  a  few  instances 
lime  concretions  were  encountered,  usually  below  the  zone  of  the  iron 
concretions.  Below  20  inches  the  color  becomes  somewhat  lighter 
and  at  a  depth  of  24  to  28  inches  mottlings  of  yellowish  brown  and 
gray  appear  and  the  type  becomes  heavier  in  texture,  continuing  to  :v 
depth  of  40  inches.  Although  the  upper  portion  of  this  subsoil  has 
some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  "  hardpan  "  found  under  the  flat 
prairies  of  central  Missouri,  it  differs  from  it  in  being  lighter  in  tex- 
ture and  less  impervious  to  water.  The  greater  portion  of  this  soil 
Avas  originally  prairie. 

The  brown  phase  of  the  Marshall  silt  loam  was  originally  timbered 
and  is  known  locally  as  "  black  walnut  land."  Typically  it  consists 
of  a  yellowish-brown,  brown,  or  dark-brown  silt  loam,  light,  friable, 
and  easy  to  cultivate  and  of  even  texture  throughout  the  soil  section, 
except  that  it  becomes  very  slightly  heavier  with  increased  depth. 
At  16  to  18  inches  the  soil  becomes  distinctly  lighter  in  color,  chang- 
ing to  a  yellowish  brown,  usually  without  mottlings,  continuing  to  a 
depth  of  40  inches  or  more  with  little  change  in  color  or  texture, 
except  that  the  lower  10  or  12  inclies  of  the  section  frequently  grades 
somewhat  lighter  in  texture.     When  exposed  along  cuts  and  ditch 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF    PLATTE   COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  19 

banks  the  lower  portions  of  the  soil  section,  immediately  above  the 
subsoil,  cracks  and  checks  in  a  characteristic  way,  somewhat  like  the 
"  gmnbo  '•  land,  except  that  the  fragments  are  usually  smaller. 

The  Marshall  silt  loam  occupies  a  broad  broken  strip  extending 
almost  entirely  across  the  eastern  side  of  the  county,  several  smaller 
areas  along  the  northern  side,  the  crest  of  the  divide  between  Platte 
River  and  Bee  Creek,  and  also  the  divides  between  Bee  Creek  and 
several  smaller  streams  which  flow  to  the  west.  Other  small  isolated 
patches  are  found  throughout  the  county,  except  in  the  stream  flood 
plains. 

The  largest  continuous  area  of  the  prairie  phase  of  the  Marshall 
silt  loam  is  located  in  the  south-central  part  of  the  county  and  forms 
the  divide  between  the  streams  flowing  north  and  west  into  Platte 
River  and  Smith  Fork  ajid  those  which  flow  south  into  the  Missouri 
River.  On  this  phase  are  located  Hampton,  Hoover,  and  Linkville, 
Another  important  area  extends  from  Ridgeley  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  county. 

The  characteristic  timber  growth  on  the  brown  phase  of  this  type 
is  black  walnut,  white  oak,  hackberry,  white  elm,  honey  locust,  ash, 
and  wild  cherry.  In  places  hard  maple  and  pawpaw  are  found. 
Areas  of  this  soil  occur  on  the  crests  of  the  divides  between  drainage 
systems  and  on  the  long  slopes  which  border  many  of  the  stream 
courses  on  one  side.  On  the  ridges  the  soil  is  usually  suiTounded  by 
the  lighter  colored  Knox  silt  loam,  but  on  the  long  slopes  bordering 
the  streams  it  often  occurs  below  the  residual  soil,  which  is  found  on 
the  steep  upper  portion  of  the  slope,  and  above  the  alluvial  soil  along 
the  stream. 

No  definite  line  of  demarcation  can  be  drawn  between  the  two 
phases  of  the  Marshall  silt  loam  as  found  in  this  area  each  grading 
into  the  other  almost  imperceptibly.  In  crop  value  there  is  little 
difference,  the  darker  colored  soil  being  perhaps  somewhat  better 
suited  to  corn,  oats,  and  pasture  grasses,  while  the  ])i-own  phase  is 
better  suited  to  wheat,  clover,  alfalfa,  and  vegetables,  Tlie  black 
phase  also  probably  does  not  stand  drought  quite  so  well  as  the 
brown  phase,  but  it  occurs  in  larger,  continuous  areas,  is  less  cut  up 
by  drainage  ways,  and  more  easily  farmed. 

The  average  yield  of  com  on  the  Marshall  silt  loam  for  a  period  of 
several  years  will  prol)al)ly  average  over  10  l)ush('ls  jx'r  acre,  and  a 
much  larger  average  yield  can  undoubteilly  be  obtained  with  better 
farming  methods.  Wheat  yields  from  20  to  25  bushels,  while  much 
larger  yields  have  been  reported.  Oats  are  raised  to  some  extent, 
and  yields  of  30  to  -10  busliels  obtained.  Some  tobacco  has  been 
grown  on  the  1)ro\vii  ])hase  of  this  type.  l)iil  IIk'  yields  have  been  less 
and  the  (|Uiility  inl'ei-ioi-  to  that  grown  on  llic  Knox  silt  loam. 


20  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OK    TUK    BUREAU    OF   SOILS,    I'JlL 

KM»X    SII.T    LOAM. 

Tlie  Kiu)\  silt  loam  consists  of  a  li<;jht  yellowish  brown  or  bntf- 
ooloivU  very  tine  sjuuly  loam  or  light  silt  loam,  friable,  and  velvety  to 
the  touch,  and  of  almost  uniform  color  and  texture  throughout  the  soil 
proper.  In  places  at  a  depth  of  10  to  18  inches  this  soil  is  somewhat 
heavier  in  texture  than  the  surface  soil  or  than  the  deep  subsoil. 
The  lightest  soil  occurs  near  the  bluffs,  where  the  loess  deposit  is  very 
deep,  becoming  heavier  as  the  deposit  becomes  thinner.  Iron  pipes 
and  thin  bands  slightly  cemented  with  iron  oxide  also  occur  at  depths 
of  .'^  to  5  feet.  Near  Waldron  large  lime  concretions  were  noticed  in 
the  loess  banks  at  depths  of  20  feet. 

The  principal  body  of  the  type  extends  in  a  broad,  almost  continu- 
ous belt  nearly  across  the  county  from  northwest  to  southeast.  The 
southwestern  boundary  of  this  belt  is  sharply  defined  and  bordered 
by  the  residual  soils  along  the  river  blutt'.  The  northeastern  edge 
is  uneven  and  irregular  in  outline,  with  many  projections  and  exten- 
sions along  the  stream  courses.  Numerous  isolated  areas  bordering 
the  stream  courses  are  found  throughout  the  county.  Near  the  river 
blulfs  the  Knox  soils  cover  the  entire  surface,  ridges  and  valleys 
alike.  Back  from  the  bluffs  the  type  occupies  the  slopes  and  lower 
ridges  only.  In  places  the  Knox  silt  loam  and  the  brown  phase  of 
the  Marshall  silt  loam  are  very  closely  related,  the  latter  occupying 
the  almost  level  areas  and  the  concave  slopes,  while  the  former  occu- 
pies the  more  eroded  areas  and  the  convex  slopes.  From  this  it  would 
seem  that  the  principal  difference  between  the.se  two  soils  is  one  of 
drainage  and  percolation  of  ground  water,  tending  in  the  case  of  the 
Marshall  silt  loam  to  h(/ld  and  collect  organic  matter  while  in  the 
other  ca.se  to  distribute  it. 

The  term  "  sugar-tree  land  "  is  applied  locally  to  the  Knox  silt 
loam.  Its  timber  growth  consists  principal!}'  of  hard  or  sugar  maple, 
black  walnut,  white  oak,  elm,  linden,  ash,  and  others.  Clumps  of 
pawpaw  bushes  are  of  frequent  occurrence  wherever  this  soil  is  found. 

The  type  is  well  adapted  to  com,  wheat,  clover,  alfalfa,  and  espe- 
cially to  garden  truck  and  fniit.  It  is  the  i:>rincipal  tobacco  soil  of 
the  county.  The  yields  for  corn,  wheat,  and  oats  are  approximately 
the  same  as  those  of  the  Marshall  silt  loam.  Tobacco  averages  about 
1,800  pounds  per  acre,  alfalfa  three  to  four  cuttings  of  from  one-half 
to  1  ton  per  cutting. 

Although  this  is  a  very  productive  soil  and  suited  to  a  wide  range 
of  crops,  owing  to  its  undulating  topography,  it  is  less  desirable  for 
general  farming  purposes  than  the  more  nearly  level  Marshall  silt 
loam. 

SHELBY    LO.\M. 

The  Shelby  loam,  to  an  average  depth  of  8  to  12  inches,  consists  of 
a  reddish-vellow  sandv  to  siltv  loam,  usuallv  containing  waterworn 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF    PLATTE    COLTNTY,    MISSOURI.  21 

gravel  and  pebbles,  and  grading  into  a  stitf  red  sandy  cla}^  in  which 
numerous  small  waterworn  rock  fragments  are  embedded.  This 
subsoil  continues  to  a  depth  of  3  feet  or  more,  but  frequently  the 
rock  material  becomes  too  heavy  below  20  inches  for  the  penetration 
of  the  soil  auger.  In  places  the  surface  soil  to  a  depth  of  15  or  20 
inches  differs  but  little  from  the  Marshall  silt  loam  or  the  Knox  silt 
loam,  but  has  the  heavier  gravelly  subsoil.  In  the  vicinity  of  Edger- 
ton,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county,  a  considerable  area  of 
soil  having  a  higher  percentage  of  sand  than  is  usually  found  in  the 
Marshall  silt  loam  has  been  included  with  this  type,  although  in 
crop  value  it  approaches  more  nearly  the  Marshall  soils. 

The  tyi')e  is  an  unimportant  one  derived  principally  from  glacial 
drift,  but  mixed  to  a  considerable  extent  with  both  the  loess  soils, 
which  were  originalh^  deposited  over  it,  and  with  soils  derived  frojn 
the  limestone,  shale,  and  sandstone  on  which  it  has  been  deposited. 

A  thin  bed  of  drift  consisting  of  foreign  bowlders,  waterworn 
pebbles,  gravel,  sand  of  all  grades,  and  red  clay  probably  extends 
over  the  greater  part  of  Platte  County,  In  most  places  it  is  covered 
by  deep  beds  of  loess.  Where  it  has  been  exposed  by  erosion  around 
the  heads  of  the  small  streams  and  along  the  steep  slopes  it  is  often 
so  thin  that  the  soils  derived  from  it  can  not  bo  shown  on  the  soil 
map  and  have  been^included  with  the  residual  soils.  In  places,  how- 
ever, these  are  of  sufficient  extent  to  be  shown  on  the  map  and  have 
been  called  the  Shelb}^  loam,  although  the  soil  varies  froui  a  light 
loam  to  a  red  gravelly  clay.  "Where  exposed  in  fields  or  along  the 
roadside  the  type  is  easily  recognized  by  its  yellowish-red  oi-  i-eddisli- 
brown  color,  by  the  numerous  rock  fragments  embedded  in  the  soil, 
and  by  its  location  immediately  above  rock  outcrops. 

The  timber  growtli  on  the  Slielby  loam  diffei's  markedly  fi'om  that 
of  the  loess  soils  and  consists  largely  of  hickor}'^,  black  and  red  oak, 
with  an  occasional  scrubby  white  oak  or  post  oak. 

Owing  to  the  great  variations  in  this  soil  and  to  its  small  irregulai- 
areas,  no  very  accurate  estimate  of  crop  yields  can  be  given.  .Vs  a 
whole  it  is  of  rather  low  agricultural  value,  the  average  yield  i'm- 
corn  probal)]y  being  25  bushels  per  acre  and  of  wheat  12  or  15  l)ushels. 

CRAWKOUI)    STONY    CLAY    l.OAM. 

The  Crawford  stony  clay  loam  is  variable  in  texture,  ranging  from 
a  sandy  loam  through  a  silt  loam  to  a  silty  clay.  It  usually,  howevei-, 
consists  of  a  yellowish-brown  silty  clay  varying  in  dei)(h  fiom  :?  (o 
10  inches  and  grading  into  a  darker  yellowish  brown,  tenacious  clay, 
which  extends  to  a  depth  of  ?>  feet  or  more  and  is  sonietimes  under- 
lain at  a  lesser  depth  by  beds  of  limestone  or  yellowish  drab  shale. 
Over  a  considerable  portion  of  the  area  (bin  fiagmenls  of  fossil- 
iferous  limestone  are  scattered  over  the  surface  and  through  the  soil 


22  FIKI.n    OTKltATlONS    OK    TlIK    nrHKAT    OK    SOILS,    V.)\\. 

|)rt)lilo.  This  soil  has  boon  <rri':itly  modilii'd  hy  the  deposition  of 
thin  layers  of  loess  over  its  siu  faee.  Tii  places  the  Knox  silt  loam 
ofeujjies  the  top  of  narrow  rid<res  while  (he  Crawford  material  is 
found  on  the  eroded  slopes.  AMiere  fields  having  a  thin  loess  cover- 
in*;  are  cultivated  the  darker  and  heavier  Crawford  material  often 
shows  at  the  surface  as  darker  brown  spots,  giving  the  field  a  mottled 
appearance.  In  other  places  small  areas  of  Shelby  loam  have  been 
included  with  this  type. 

The  Crawford  stony  clay  loam  is  a  residual  soil  derived  from  the 
weathering  in  place  of  beds  of  limestone  and  shales  of  the  Upper 
Coal  Measures.  It  has  the  widest  distribution  of  any  soil  in  the 
county.  A  narrow^  strip  of  it  extends  along  the  edge  of  the  bluifs 
bordering  the  ISIissouri  River  bottoms  and  other  narrow  strips  fol- 
low the  bluff  lines  bordering  all  the  principal  streams.  In  the 
southern  part  of  the  county  it  is  the  predominating  upland  soil,  and 
patches  of  it  occur  wherever  erosion  to  a  sufficient  degree  to  remove 
the  surface  covering  of  loess  and  till  has  taken  place. 

\Alierever  it  occurs  in  the  long,  narrow  strips  which  usually  repre- 
sent bluff  lines  or  steep  slopes,  especially  in  the  northern  and  central 
parts  of  the  county,  it  is  filled  with  fragments  of  limestone,  and  rock 
outcrops  are  common.  In  many  places  the  soil  is  very  shallow,  rest- 
ing upon  the  underlying  rocks  at  depths  varying  from  1  to  3  feet. 
In  these  areas,  owing  to  steep  slope  and  excess  of  rock  fragments, 
approximately  one-half  the  soil  is  shallow  and  unfit  for  agricultural 
purposes.  Farther  south,  where  larger  areas  occur,  not  more  than 
one-third  or  one-fourth  is  too  rocky  for  cultivation.  The  rocky 
areas  are  usually  timbered  or  covered  with  brush.  Owing  to  the 
small  size  ot  the  areas  covered  by  the  Crawford  stony  clay  loam,  no 
attempt  has  been  made  to  separate  the  stony  from  the  stone-free 
areas,  but  the  principal  stony  areas  have  been  indicated  on  the  map 
by  rock  outcrop  symbols. 

AATiere  cultivation  is  possible  the  Crawford  stony  clay  loam  pro- 
duces fair  crops  of  corn  and  small  grains.  Some  tobacco  is  also 
grown  on  it.  Corn  will  probably  average  30  bushels  and  wheat  12 
to  15  bushels.  Bluegrass  and  white  clover  do  well  on  it  and  the  more 
stony  portions  are  used  almost  exclusively  for  pasture. 
BOONE  finp:  sandy  loam. 

The  Boone  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  smooth,  friable  grayish- 
yellow  to  reddish-brown  fine  sandy  loam,  varying  in  depth  from 
only  a  few  inches  to  as  much  as  20  or  30  inches,  although  in  most 
places  the  depth  is  less  than  20  inches.  The  subsoil  is  composed 
principally  of  yellow  fine  sand,  the  result  of  disintegration  of  sand- 
stone. In  places  the  surface  soil  is  filled  with  small,  thin  fragments 
of  reddish-brown  shaly  sandstone  and  contains  waterworn  gravel 
washed  down  from  the  drift  which  Avas  deposited  above  it. 


SOIL   SUEVEY   OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURI. 


23 


Sandstone  outcrops  occur  along  several  of  the  smaller  streams  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  county.  The  weathering  of  this  material 
has  given  rise  to  a  fine  sandy  loam  soil  of  limited  extent  and  of 
rather  low  agricultural  value.  The  areas  of  this  soil  are  small  and 
usually  widely  separated,  being  confined  to  small  patches  around 
the  heads  of  small  streams  which  rise  near  the  zone  of  outcropping 
sandstone,  or  to  slopes  which  are  in  just  the  right  position  to  catch 
the  weathered  material  which  creeps  down  from  this  formation. 

Along  the  lower  slopes  of  the  areas  covered  by  the  Boone  fine 
sandy  loam,  where  accumulations  of  organic  matter  occur,  it  is  darker 
in  color  and  is  fairly  productive  and  well  suited  to  melons,  garden 
truck,  and  berries.  Over  the  greater  portion  of  the  areas  covered  by 
it,  however,  it  is  of  little  value  for  the  cultivated  field  crops  or  for 
meadow  or  pasture. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of 
samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Boone  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

341803 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.3 

.4 

Per  cent. 
0.7 

.a 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.4 

Per  cent. 
17.9 
26.3 

Per  cent. 
44.7 
43.3 

Per  cent. 
27.8 
20.3 

Per  cent. 
8.0 

341804 

Subsoil 

8.6 

WABASH   VERY   FINE  SANDY   LOAM. 


The  AYabash  very  fine  sandy  loam  as  found  in  Platte  County  is 
derived  almost  entirely  from  material  eroded  from  the  loessial  upland 
soils  and  redeposited  by  flood  waters.  It  differs  from  those  soils 
principally  in  being  lighter  in  texture  and  in  containing  a  higher 
percentage  of  organic  matter.  In  color  it  varies  from  dark  brown, 
dark  gray,  and  in  a  few  places  almost  black  to  light  yellowish  gray 
or  buff,  closely  resembling  the  Kn-ox  .silt  loam  in  color.  The  greater 
part  of  the  type  is  composed  of  the  lighter  shades.  In  texture  the 
soil  varies  from  a  very  fine  to  fine  light  sandy  loam.  In  some  j)hices, 
especially  in  those  portions  of  the  areas  adjacent  to  the  streams,  the 
lower  subsoil  grades  into  a  very  light  fine  sandy  loam  or  fine  saiiih 

In  the  valley  of  the  Platte  River  small  bodies  of  iiicdiuiii  sand  or 
very  light  sandy  loam  are  encountered  which,  on  accouiit  of  theii- 
small  size,  have  not  been  shown  on  the  soil  map,  but  have  been 
included  with  the  surrounding  soil,  which  is  usually  line  sandy  loam 
or  silt  loam.  These  areas  of  lighter  soil  occui-  as  low  ridges,  and  on 
account  of  their  high  content  of  .sand  are  rather  iin|)rodiielive. 

The  Wabash  very  fine  sandy  loam  is  one  of  the  most  easily  cidli- 
vated,  jiroductive  and  wid<'ly  distiibnted  soil  (ype^  of  (he  area.     TIm' 


24  riKLD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1011". 

l>riiici|):il  ohjort ioiiabli'  iVatiircs  to  its  (levelopniont  aro  that  it  usually 
Di-iMirs  in  lonir.  narrow  strips,  often  crossed  and  rocrossed  hy  the 
stream  along:  which  it  (X'curs.  and  that  in  many  places  it  is  subject  to 
overflow. 

The  largest  continuous  body  of  this  tyjie  occurs  alon*2^  Bee  Creek, 
where  a  strip  averai^injr  alwut  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in  width  extends 
from  the  i)oint  where  this  stream  enters  the  county  near  Dearborn 
almost  to  Beverly  Station.  Numerous  smaller  interrupted  areas  occur 
in  the  valley  of  the  Platte  Eiver,  while  still  smaller  bodies  of  it.  lie 
alonpf  the  valleys  of  practically  all  the  smaller  streams  in  the  county. 
^Nlany  of  those  small  areas  on  account  of  their  size  have  been  included 
with  the  adjacent  types.  AVhere  the  Wabash  very  fine  sandy  loam 
occurs  in  the  valley  of  a  large  stream  it  usually  occupies  a  position 
near  the  stream  course.  In  many  places  it  occupies  a  lower  and  more 
frequently  overflowed  flood  plain,  being  separated  from  the  heavier 
soils  by  a  steep  terrace  6  to  12  feet  in  height.  In  places  along  Bee 
Creek  the  lower  level  is  occupied  by  a  very  light  fine  sandy  loam, 
while  the  upper  level  is  occupied  by  a  fine  sandy  loam  somewhat 
heavier  in  texture.  In  the  smaller  stream  courses  the  fine  sandy  loam 
usually  occupies  the  entire  flood  plain. 

This  soil  gives  good  yields  of  corn,  wheat,  clover,  and  alfalfa.  It 
is  especially  suited  to  vegetables,  melons,  and  small  fruits! 

WABASH    SILT   LOAM. 

The  AVabash  silt  loam  where  typically  developed  consists  of  a 
gray,  dark-gray  or  gra3'ish-brown  to  almost  black  silt  loam,  light 
and  friable  at  the  surface  and  containing  an  appreciable  amoimt 
of  fine  sand.  It  becomes  slightlj'^  heavier  with  depth,  grading  at 
IT)  inches  into  a  heavy  dark-colored  silt  loam,  which  continues  to  a 
depth  of  3  feet  or  more,  the  lower  part  of  the  section  being  occa- 
sionally slightly  mottled  with  spots  of  reddish  brown.  In  some 
parts  of  the  area,  especially  in  the  valley  of  Bee  Creek,  the  lower 
portion  of  the  subsoil  becomes  lighter  instead  of  heavier,  grading  in 
places  into  a  fine  sandy  loam. 

Wahash  silt  loam,  heavy  phase. — A  heavy  phase  of  the  Wabash 
silt  loam  occurs  in  several  places  in  the  Platte  River  Valley,  in 
which  the  surface  soil  is  nearly  typical  in  texture,  although  usualh'^ 
darker  colored  and  in  places  almost  black  in  color.  It  is  underlain 
at  a  depth  of  12  to  18  inches  by  a  heavy  gray  or  mottled  gray  and 
brown  tenacious  silty  clay.  This  phase  is  shown  on  the  soil  map  by 
cross  hatching. 

Wahash  silt  loam,  coUuvial  phase. — A  few  small  areas  of  the  col- 
luvial  phase  of  the  Wabash  silt  loam  have  been  mapped.  These 
occur  along  the  upper  courses  of  a  few  small  streams  which  head 
Avell  out  on  the  level  uplands.     The  soil  has  come  from  the  adjacent 


SOIL  SURVEY   OF   PLATTE   COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  25 

areas  through  gradual  movement  down  the  slopes,  but  has  not  been 
carried  in  suspension  and  redeposited  as  true  alluvial  soils  have 
been.  It  consists  of  dark-gray  or  black  silt  loam  which  becomes 
heavier  with  increased  depth.  Below  16  or  18  inches  it  is  often  a 
very  heav}'-  silt  loam  or  clay  loam.  It  is  rich  in  organic  matter  and 
productive,  but  frequently  needs  artificial  drainage. 

The  "Wabash  silt  loam  found  in  this  area  is  derived  from  the  same 
sources  as  the  very  fine  sandy  loam  and  consists  almost  entirely  of 
washed  loessial  material.  In  the  case  of  tlie  siU  loam,  however,  a 
larger  proportion  of  silt  and  clay  and  less  fine  sand  have  been 
deposited. 

The  largest  areas  of  this  soil  occur  in  the  valleys  of  the  Platte 
River  and  Smith  Fork,  but  smaller  areas  are  found  in  the  valleys 
of  several  of  the  less  important  streams.  In  most  places  the  type 
does  not  extend  entirely  across  the  valley,  being  separated  from  the 
stream  channel  by  narrow  strips  of  fine  sandy  loam,  some  of  which 
are  shown  on  the  map.  Along  the  edges  of  several  of  the  smaller 
stream  valleys  benches  or  "  high  bottoms "  occur.  These  lie  at  a 
considerable  elevation  above  the  present  flood  plain  of  the  streams 
along  which  they  occur  and  are  separated  from  them  by  a  distinct 
terrace  slope.  Where  cut  into  by  gullies  these  benches  are  seen  to  be 
made  up  almost  entirely  of  loessial  material,  and  in  most  places  the 
soil  closely  resembles  the  Knox  silt  loam,  although  its  position  and 
level  surface  clearly  indicate  its  alluvial  origin.  These  benches  have 
been  mapped  as  Wabash  silt  loam. 

The  Wabash  silt  loam  is  well  suited  to  corn  and  wheat,  and  where 
the  subsoil  is  not  too  heavy  and  is  well  drained,  cloA'cr  and  alfalfa 
can  be  grown.  Much  of  the  type  is  subject  to  overflow,  and  some 
areas  can  be  greatly  benefited  by  artificial  drainage.  Corn  will 
average  about  50  bushels  per  acre  and  wheat  25  bushels.  Much 
larger  yields  are  often  obtained. 

WABASH    CLAY. 

The  Wabash'  clay  consists  of  dark-gra}^  black  or  bluish-black, 
heavy,  tenacious  clay,  ditl'ering  but  little  in  the  subsoil  in  (cxdirc, 
the  color  showing  somewhat  lighter  an<l  being  a  ])i-on<)ini(C(l  gray 
where  exposed  along  ditches  and  allowed  to  weather.  The  surface 
soil  has  a  tendency  to  chock  and  ci-ack  badly,  the  fissures  ofh-n 
extending  to  a  depth  of  13  or  15  inches'.  All  of  (his  (yi)c  needs 
artificial  drainage. 

Although  (liis  soil  is  heavy  and  difficult  to  liandle  neaily  all  uf 
it  is  cultivated,  and  when  the  season  is  fnvoiable  good  yields  (d" 
corn  and  Avheat  are  obtained.  On  account  of  its  low  jjosilion  and 
impervious  subsoil  crops  are  liable  to  suH'er  from  excessive  moisture, 
and  on  account  of  its  tendency  to  ci-ack  iind  clu'ck  it  does  not  willi- 
stand  piT)triicte(l  seasons  of  drought. 


26  FIKI.n    OI'KHATTONS   OF    TlfR    BUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1911. 


.SAIU'Y    VIKY    FINK    BANDY    I.OAM. 


The  Sarpy  very  fine  sinuly  loam  consists  of  a  light  yellowish- 
hrown.  fine  to  \ery  fine  sandy  loam  of  medium  texture,  extending  to 
a  depth  of  l.'i  to  'M\  inches  or  more.  "Where  of  less  than  3  feet  in 
dri)th  it  is  usually  uuilerlain  by  a  hea\y  silt  loam,  clay  loam,  or  clay 
of  tlarker  color. 

The  Sarpy  ^ery  liiu'  ^andy  hmni  in  Piatt  (\)unty  is^ confined  to  the 
Missouri  River  Hood  plains  where  two  distinct  phases  have  been 
mapped — the  outer  valley  phase  and  the  river  phase.  The  former 
occurs  next  to  the  blutf  line,  immediately  in  front  of  the  point  where 
each  of  the  principal  smaller  streams  enter  the  valley  and  for  some 
distance  along  tlie  tortuous  channels  of  these  streams  as  they  cross 
the  level  flood  plain.  The  principal  areas  occur  along  the  lower 
course  of  Sugar,  Bear,  Bnish,  and  Rush  Creeks.  Each  of  these 
streams  in  the  upper  portion  of  its  course  has  a  steep  grs.de  and  in 
times  of  heavy  rainfall  a  swift  current,  which  carnes  down  large 
amounts  of  sand  and  silt  from  the  uplands.  This  material  is  dropped 
when  the  lower  gi-ade  of  the  valley  floor  checks  the  velocity  of  the 
stream.  In  man}''  places  the  streams  have  changed  their  course  fre- 
quent h'  to  avoid  previously  deposited  material. 

The  fine  sandy  and  silty  material  is  more  or  less  mixed  with  the 
soils  carried  by  the  flood  waters  of  the  Missouri.  In  several  places 
areas  of  clay  have  been  covered  bj'^  this  lighter  soil  to  depths  vaiying 
from  a  few  inches  to  2  or  3  feet,  which  is  deepest  next  to  the  stream 
channel  and  thins  out  and  becomes  more  thoroughly  mixed  with 
the  Missouri  River  soils  away  from  the  stream.  On  account  of  its 
location  in  the  Missouri  River  flood  plain  and  thorough  mixing  with 
the  Missouri  River  soils  it  has  been  classified  with  the  Sarpy  rather 
than  with  the  "Wabash  soils.  Locally  it  is  often  referred  to  as 
"  made  land,''  and  is  one  of  the  most  productive  soils  of  the  area, 
being  well  suited  to  all  the  ordinary  field  crops  and  especially  to 
garden  crops  and  small  fruits. 

The  river  phase  of  the  Sarpy  veiy  fine  sandy  loam  occurs  in  long, 
narrow  strips  usually  close  to  the  river  front  and  along  the  sloughs 
and  lakes.  It  usually  grades  from  a  fine  sand  or  very  light  fine  sandy 
loam  on  the  stream  side  to  a  heavier  soil  away  from  it.  Small  areas 
of  sand  and  others  of  heavier  soil  are  common.  Thin  layers  of  sand 
and  of  heavy  soil  are  also  frequently  encountered  in  the  soil  j^rofile. 
Typically  it  consists  of  a  light  yellowish-gray  fine  or  verj^  fine 
sandy  loam  underlain  at  a  depth  of  15  to  30  inches  by  a  light-yellow 
fine  sand.  This  phase  of  the  Saipy  ver}^  fine  sandv  loam  gives  only 
fair  yields  of  corn  and  grain.  It  is  well  suited  to  melons,  vegetables, 
and  small  fruits. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   PLATTE   COUNTY,    MISSOURI.  27 

SARPY    SILTY    CLAY    LOAM. 

The  Sarpy  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  a  dark-gray  to  a  light  yellow- 
ish broAvn  fine  sandy  loam  to  silty  clay,  becoming  heavier  in  texture 
at  depths  ranging  from  G  to  IG  inches,  and  underlain  at  18  to  30 
inches  by  a  fine  sandy  loam,  fine  sand,  or  light  silt  loam.  Alternate 
layers  of  light  and  heavy  soil  are  common  throughout  soil  and  sub- 
soil. The  surface  soil  is  usually  light  and  friable  and  can  be  readily 
cultivated  under  proper  moisture  conditions.  TVlien  handled  too 
wet,  it  tends  to  puddle  and  upon  drying  becomes  hard  and  cloddy. 

Areas  of  this  soil  are  distributed  throughout,  the*  Missouri  River 
flood  plain. 

The  Sarpy  silty  claj^  loam  gives  good  yields,  of  corn,  wheat,  and 
clover.  On  account  of  its  good  underdrainage  it  is  also  well  suit^ 
to  alfalfa. 

SARPY   CLAY, 

The  Sarpy  clay  covers  the  widest  area  of  any  soil  in  tlie  Missouri 
River  bottoms.  The  surface  of  the  Sarpy  clay  consists  of  a  dark- 
gray  to  yellowish-brown  or  almost  black  silty  clay,  heavy  and  tena- 
cious, and  cracking  badly  when  dr3\  At  depths  varying  from  8  to 
30  inches  it  is  underlain  by  a  fine  sand,  fine  sandy  loam,  or  light  silt 
loam.  In  some  places  the  light  subsoil  is  not  encountered,  the.  lower 
subsoil  being  a  slightly  mottled  silty  clay. 

This  type  usually  occupies  the  lower  portions  of  the  flooil  plain. 
Much  of  it  is  not  cultivated  and  is  covered  by  dense  gi'owths  of  small 
willows  and  cottonwoods.  This  condition  is  due  to  its  low-lying 
position  and  danger  from  overflow  rather  than  to  differences  in  soil. 
As  a  whole,  the  heavy  surface  soil  on  these  willow  flats  is  usually 
lighter  and  not  so  deep  as  on  those  areas  which  are  cultivated. 

The  type  is  one  of  the  motjt  extensively  developed  soils  of  the  area. 
It  is  a  heavy,  refractory  soil  and  difficult  to  handle.  Owing  to  its 
tendency  to  check  and  crack  it  does  not  stand  drought  well,  but 
under  favorable  climatic  conditions  it  gives  fair  yields  of  corn  and 
wheat. 

SARPY    LOAM. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Duck  Lake  and  south  of  it  a  few  areas  of  soil 
have  been  mapped  as  Sarpy  loam.  This  type  consists  of  Sarpy  silty 
clay  loam,  which  in  places  contains  a  rather  high  percentage  of 
sharp*  medium  sand,  with  low  mounds  and  ridges  of  fine  sand  and 
fine  sandy  loam  too  small  to  be  shown  on  the  soil  map  scattered  over 
its  surface.  The  toj^ograpliy  is  rather  uneven  and  the  crop  value 
.slightly  lower  than  that  of  the  Sarpy  silty  clay  loam. 

SARPY  VKRY  FINK  HAND. 

In  several  j)laces  hmg.  ininnw  s(rii)S  of  vciv  fiix'  sand  occur  .dong 
the   I'wvy  front,  ami    in   ninny  other  phiccs  vniiill   areas  too  sniall   to 


28 


FIKl.n    OPEHATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOTl.S,    1011. 


map  ha\i'  boon  iiioliukHl  with  tho  surroumlin^"  soils.  These  areas 
consist  of  a  line  or  very  fine,  loose,  fluffy  sand,  li«»:ht  yellow  or  light 
j;ray  in  color,  ami  ctmtaining  ninneroiis  small  mica  fragments.  It 
seems  to  be  made  up  of  the  same  material  found  in  the  lighter-tex- 
turoil  layers  of  the  other  Sarpy  soils.  It  has  a  low  agricultural 
value  and  little  of  it  is  cultivated  excei)t  the  small  patches  which 
are  surrounded  by  heavier  soils. 

The   following  table  gives  the   results   of   a    mechanical    analysis 
of  a  samj^le  of  soil  of  this  type: 

Mcchiiiihiil  (iiKthisla  of  fidrjui  mil  fiiir  .s-»/u7. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay 

341828 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.2 

Per  cent. 
0.2 

Per  cent. 
0.1 

Per  cent. 
6.3 

Per  cent. 
46.3 

Per  cent. 
40.0 

Per  cent. 
7.2 

The  following  sample  contained  mo^-e  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate 
(CaCOal  :   No.  241828,  5.04  per  cent. 

SUMMARY. 

Platte  County  is  situated  in  the  noi-thwestern  jDart  of  Missouri 
and  has  an  area  of  427  square  miles,  or  273,280  acres.  It  consists  of 
two  main  physiographic  divisions,  the  almost  level  flood  plains,  or 
bottom  lands,  and  the  hilly  and  broken  uplands. 

The  principal  crops  of  the  county  are  wheat,  corn,  and  tobacco. 
The  yields  are  good,  but  should  be  greatly  increased  through  better 
methods  of  farming.  The  county  leads  the  State  in  the  manufactui'e 
of  whisk}'  and  ranks  second  in  the  production  of  tobacco. 

The  excellent  soils  of  the  county  and  its  proximity  to  good  mar- 
kets offer  excellent  opportunities  for  the  establishment  of  profitable 
dairy  farms  and  for  the  development  of  an  important  trucking 
industry. 

Land  values  range  from  $85  an  acre  for  the  broken  and  less  pro- 
ductive lands  to  $150  an  acre  for  those  wdiich  axe  more  desirable 
and  better  improved. 

The  soils  of  the  county,  according  to  their  source  of  origin,  fall 
naturally  into  three  distinct  classifications,  those  formed  from  loess 
and  glacial  till,  the  alluvial  soils,  and  the  residual  soils. 

The  soils  formed  fi'om  loess  and  glacial  till  occupy  the  greater 
part  of  the  uplands.  Although  much  of  this  region  is  hilly  and 
badly  dissected,  the  soils  are  naturally  rich  and  productive  and  suited 
to  a  wide  range  of  crops.  Of  these,  corn,  Avheat,  clover,  alfalfa,  blue- 
gi-ass,  fruits,  and  vegetables  are  the  most  imjxtrtant.  The  lighter- 
colored  loess  soils  are  the  principal  tobacco  soils  of  the  county. 

The  residual  soils  occur  principally  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  and  in  the  rougher,  more  broken  areas  of  other  parts.    They 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF    PLATTE    COUNTY,    MISSOURI. 


29 


are  less  productiA'e  than  the  loess  soils  and  are  in  places  too  broken 
and  too  rocky  for  cultivation.  Considerable  areas  are  also  covered 
by  scrubby  timber  and  underbrush.  In  some  places,  however,  they 
have  been  greatly  improved  by  a  thin  surface  covering  of  loess. 

The  alluvial  soils  occur  along  the  Missouri  and  Platte  Rivers  and 
the  smaller  streams  of  the  area.  Although  portions  of  the  alluvial 
soils  are  subject  to  overflow  and  artificial  drainage  is  needed  in 
places,  they  include  some  of  the  richest  and  most  productive  lands 
of  the  area.  Some  of  them  are  well  suited  to  corn,  wheat,  alfalfa, 
and  clover.  Other  portions  are  especially  well  suited  to  potatoes, 
garden  truck,  and  melons. 

The  greatest  needs  of  the  county  are  better  farming  methods,  the 
adoption  of  a  system  of  crop  rotation  in  which  one  or  more  legume 
crops  shall  have  a  place,  more  thorough  and  persistent  cultivation, 
the  control  of  soil  moisture,  relieving  the  excess  by  drainage  and 
conserving  the  rainfall,  where  needed,  by  cultivation,  preventing  loss 
from  erosion,  and  building  up  the  soil  by  raising  and  feeding  more 
live  stock. 

o 


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